Motor-vehicle construction



c.lw. MCKINIEY.

MOTOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. r, 1917.

1,346,326, C PmnIeaJuIy, 1920.

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IIIIIIIIMIIIllIIIl//lf/ OFFICE.`

CHARLES W. MCKINLEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WILLYS-OVERLANI) COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO,

MOTOR-VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION. I

Application inea December 7, 1917.

To all fio/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES lW. McliIN- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motorffehicle Construction, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in motor vehicle construction and more particib larly to improvements in the connections between the hound rods and the rear axle ofa motor vehicle. Y

The principal object of my invention is to provide easy releasable and quickly.adjust able connections between the hound rods and the rear axle of a motor vehicle; Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a top plan view of the rear end of a motor vehicle chassis embodying my invention, parts of the frame being broken away in order to show the hound rod connections more clearly.

Fig. II is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom plan view of a portion of the a-Xle showing the hound rod connections from beneath.

Fig. Hl is an enlarged, detail, sectional view, talren substantially on the line 11.1--111 of Fig. I;

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional view is taken looking in the direction of the little arrows' at the ends of the section line.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, I have shown a motor vehicle frame 10, and a rear axle 11 on which the wheels 16 are mounted, said rear axle being connected to the frame by means of the cantaliver springs 17. The transmission casing 12 is attached to the axle 11 and the rear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Serial No. 205,972.

end of the torque tube 13 is connected to said transmission casing. A yoke la is connected at the forward end of the torque tube 13, by means of which the torque tube is pivotally connected with the frame. The propeller shaft 15 extends to the transmission mechanism within the torque tube 13. ln order to prevent the axle twisting relative to the frame, the hound rods 19 are provided, the forward ends of which are connected in the bosses'18 projecting from the yoke 141-. Connections are provided between the axle 11 and the hound rods 19, said connections being located substantially in line with the connected with the rear end of one of the hound rods. Each of these connections is identical with the other and therefore but one of them will be described. j

A pair of semi-cylindrical sleeves 2() and 21 are provided, the sleeve 2O being provided with projecting ears 22, while the sleeve 21 is provided with the projecting ears 23. These-sleeves fit around the axle 11, with the sleeve 21 below the axle, and the two sleeves are secured together by bolts 24 passing through the ears 22 and 2S. A boss 25 projects downwardly from the lower side of the sleeve 21, the axis of said boss being inclined to the a-Xle in the general direction of the hound rod, and said boss being provided with an axial opening extending therethrough. A threaded pin 2G extends through said opening and nuts 27 and 25% are threaded on the pin 2G, one on each side of the boss 25. The forward end of the pin 26 is forked, having the arms 29 between which the ear 31 extending from the rear end of the hound rod 19 is disposed, the pin 2G and the hound rod 19 being pivotally connected together by means of the bolt 30 extending through the arms 29 and the ear 31.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation of this device should be very readily understood. The sleeves 2O and 21, which are clamped about the axle 11 by means of the bolts 24A, become, in effect, part of the axle. The hound rods 19 rods.

the pin Q6' with reference tothe sleeve E21 may be changed and hence the hound rods may be tightened orfslackened. This ten- V sion'ing-.fV ldjustment canv be very-.readily and? quickly eil'ected. The `:sleeves :20 and L21 canbe disconnected from the axle by releasing the bolts 2li andrhence the houndrods "can be disconnected from the axle, as maybe necessari when theaxleis to be removed. 7

without disturbing the adjustment` of the hound rods so that they can be connected in placeagain with the same adjustment as was used vbeforethey were disconnected.,

This construction, thereforepgives aV connection between the hound rods-and the axle which is veryk simple andeconomical in construction, affords a very convenient tension adjustment for the hound rods, and 1s of such a nature that it can be very readily Vother on the axle. A f

l 4am .aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, which I have here shown *andV described, is susceptible of considerable variation Without'` departing from the spiritfthereof, and therefore, .I desire to claim my' invention broadly, fas Well as speters Patent,1 is

l l. The combination Vwith a motor vehicle,

"having afranre, an axle, and hound rods connecting said frame and axle; of a pair lofsplitrsleeves embracing saidaxle',.adja-V cent the ends thereof, each of said sleeves beingprovide'd with a downwardly projecting boss; apin adjustably mountedin each boss.; .and pivotal connections between said pins .andfthe rear 'ends of said hound rods.

' 2. The combination with va motor vehicle, having a frame, an axle, and hound rods connecting said frame and "axle5of a pair of split sleeves embracing, said laxle, Vadj a cent the ends thereof, each ofsaidsleeves being provided with :a boss ,projecting downf wardly therefrom; a pin adjustably mountedv in leach boss and'exten'ding in the direction ofthe corresponding Vhound rod, the forward end of said pin beingforked,

the reajr ends of saidhoundrods extending between-the forkedends'of said Vpins and being pivotally connected thereto.

Y In testimony whereof lV alix my, Signature. j

ciariannes W.V MeKiNLEY. 

